Psychology Brown Bag: Enhancing Risk Management with Computational Models of Cognitive-Physiological Interactions.

Dr. Glenn Gunzelmann, Air Force Research Laboratory. Presentation title: Enhancing Risk Management with Computational Models of Cognitive-Physiological Interactions.

Abstract: The vast majority of cognitive models assume that humans reliably engage in goal-directed processing, with laser-like focus on the task at hand. In this research, understanding how factors like sleep loss, time on task, environmental toxins, and workload impact performance are the focus. Beginning with detailed investigations of how sleep loss and circadian rhythms impact cognitive performance, we have developed a methodology to link formal models of cognitive moderators to cognitive architectures, resulting in computational theories that account for fluctuations in cognition and behavior resulting from these external and internal influences. The talk will illustrate this methodology in the context of sleep loss and circadian rhythms, and discuss extensions to vigilance, workload, and physiological changes.

Bio: Dr. Gunzelmann is a Senior Cognitive Scientist with the Airman Systems Directorate in the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), where he serves as the Science and Technology Advisor for the Cognitive Science, Models and Agents Branch. In this role, he oversees a broad portfolio focused on a future where cognitive models and agents are embedded pervasively in Air Force systems to personalize training, monitor readiness, and provide operational support. He is lead author or coauthor on more than 60 peer-reviewed publications that have appeared as journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers. Glenn chaired the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society in 2017 (CogSci2017), and the International Conference on Cognitive Modeling in 2010. He won the Computational Modeling Prize for Applied Cognition from the Cognitive Science Society in 2007, received the Star Team Award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research twice (2007; 2010), and was recognized with the 711 Human Performance Wing Award for Science and Technology Management in 2011. Glenn has been with AFRL since 2004, following a 1-year postdoc with the National Research Council. He earned his PhD in Cognitive Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University in 2003.